Operations Lead, Arts Education Initiative

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Economic Indepedence

JOB SUMMARY

Qualifications & ExperienceEducation: Masters in relevant field or equivalent experience in operations, strategy, or venture building.Experience: 3–6 years in start-ups or project management (exposure to creative industries, education, or social ventures would be a bonus).

RESPONSIBILITIES

Launch planning and executionTranslate the program concept into a concrete, phased launch roadmap, covering community consultations, creative camps, and the first pilot programs.Drive delivery of early milestones: identify locations, secure partners, and coordinate logistics for events and pilots.Manage day-to-day operations during the build phase, anticipating bottlenecks and problem-solving quickly.Build systems for tracking timelines, budgets, and KPIs to keep the project on schedule.Business model and operationsDevelop and manage detailed budgets and operational systems suited to a lean, start-up phase.Maintain strong cost discipline: identify ways to economize and make efficient use of limited resources.Support the design of governance, HR, and admissions processes as the initiative evolves into a permanent institution.Prepare draft business models, funding scenarios, and cost-recovery plans to guide long-term sustainability.Partnerships and ecosystem-buildingEngage with creative schools, local institutions, and international partners to build the early network behind the school.Support mapping of funders and investors in the creative economy; coordinate outreach and proposal materials.Help establish and service an advisory committee of educators, practitioners, and industry experts.Represent the project in meetings and events with ministries, cultural organisations, and community stakeholders.Project management and communicationMaintain clear dashboards, trackers, and deliverables that support agile decision-making.Prepare succinct decks, briefs, and progress updates for senior leadership, trustees, and external partners.Ensure alignment across internal teams and any external consultants (if applicable).Regulatory compliance and legal setupResearch and understand the regulatory landscape for post-secondary education and design an implementation roadmap for the right registration and certification setup.Explore partnerships with global institutions for co-certification programs.Work with the organisation’s finance and legal team to establish a solid legal structure.Builder mindsetApproach the role with a founder’s mentality: proactive, accountable, and unafraid to take initiative.Willing to go beyond regular hours or step outside formal job boundaries when needed to move the project forward.Operate with integrity, humility, and discretion, building trust internally and externally.Treat every challenge as an opportunity to shape something lasting and distinctive for the region 

REQUIRED SKILLS

Operations planning, Business strategy, Reporting

REQUIRED EDUCATION

Post-graduate education